Research finds Novogen compound effective against IBD

NV-52 is thought to work as a selective thromboxane synthase (TXS) inhibitor, which researchers believe may play a major therapeutic role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to its apparent ability to inhibit pro-inflammatory thromboxanes. The research shows NV-52 may be effective at preventing and limiting the severity of IBD when administered in low doses prior to, and during colonic inflammation.

NV-52 has completed Phase Ia and Ib clinical trials in healthy volunteers in Australia, where it demonstrated no detectable side effects, as well as the likelihood of requiring just once daily dosing. NV-52 has been shown to be effective in suppressing colonic inflammation in laboratory mice and has not displayed any toxicity in vitro and extensive animal toxicological studies.

The research indicated that NV-52 seems to be a principal developmental drug of interest at the present time for the prevention of relapse in IBD, particularly for the large portion of patients who have mild-to-moderate disease.

Laurence Howes, professor of pharmacology and therapeutics at Griffith and Bond University Medical School in Queensland, Australia, and lead author of the study, said: “Our research suggests that NV-52 will be a safe and well-tolerated therapy and animal studies provide promise that it may have useful efficacy. Improved maintenance therapy remains the greatest unmet medical need in treating IBD, with the challenge in drug development being a non-toxic agent that will maintain disease remission.”